Description
Delicious and flavorful Hot Honey Ground Beef & Sweet Potato Boats combine tender roasted sweet potatoes with spicy, sweet ground beef, garnished with fresh herbs, creamy avocado, and tangy cheese for a balanced and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Sweet Potato Boats
- 4 medium sweet potatoes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (divided)
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Ground Beef Mixture
- 1 pound lean ground beef (85–90%)
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (divided)
- 1/4 cup hot honey (divided)
Garnishes (Optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta or goat cheese
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 avocado, sliced
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ease cleanup.
- Prepare Sweet Potatoes: Slice the sweet potatoes lengthwise and score the flesh slightly. Brush the cut sides with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and black pepper to season.
- Roast Sweet Potatoes: Place the sweet potatoes cut-side down on the baking sheet and roast them in the oven for 30-40 minutes, or until a fork easily pierces the flesh, indicating they are tender.
- Sauté Onions: While the sweet potatoes roast, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the finely diced onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until translucent and softened.
- Add Garlic: Add the minced garlic to the skillet and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Cook Ground Beef: Add the lean ground beef to the skillet and cook for 6-8 minutes, breaking it up as it browns. Drain any excess grease from the pan if necessary to keep the dish lean.
- Season Beef: Stir in the smoked paprika, ground cumin, chili flakes, salt, and black pepper. Cook the mixture for another minute to toast the spices and enhance their flavors.
- Optional Add-in: If desired, mix in some reserved mashed sweet potato flesh from the boats for added moisture and richness in the beef mixture.
- Add Hot Honey: Drizzle 2 tablespoons of the hot honey into the beef mixture and simmer for 2-3 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly and coat the beef well.
- Assemble Boats: Scoop out a small portion from the roasted sweet potatoes to create ‘boats’ with space for filling. Fill each boat with a generous amount of the spicy beef mixture.
- Warm Filled Boats: Return the filled sweet potato boats to the oven for 5-7 minutes to warm everything through and meld the flavors.
- Add Toppings: Remove from the oven and drizzle the remaining hot honey over the boats. Top with crumbled feta or goat cheese, chopped fresh parsley or cilantro, sliced green onions, a squeeze of lime juice, and sliced avocado if using.
- Rest and Serve: Let the sweet potato boats rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to settle and for optimal taste and texture.
Notes
- Store leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days to maintain freshness.
- For best texture when reheating, warm leftovers in the oven at 350°F rather than the microwave.
- You can freeze the cooked beef mixture separately for up to 2 months; thaw before assembling with sweet potatoes.
- Adjust the amount of hot honey used according to your preferred spice level, adding more for extra heat or less for milder flavor.
Keywords: hot honey ground beef, sweet potato boats, spicy beef recipe, roasted sweet potatoes, ground beef dinner